Skip to main content

Bats Bounce Back Under Gross

The coaching switch has proved successful thus far. Since replacing hitting coach Milt Thompson with Greg Gross last week, the Phillies have gone undefeated in 5 games. The defending National League champions had been struggling to score runs this season, but have averaged 6.8 runs per game since the change. The team averaged 4.49 runs per game through their first 95 contests this season.

Also much improved is the overall team batting average. In the 5 games since Gross took over, the Phillies have posted a .320 batting average. Under the coach stylings of Milt Thompson the Phillies were batting just .254.

Gross, who had more than 700 plate appearances as a pinch hitter in his career and is the Phillies all-time leader in pinch hits, with 117 (more than twice the next closest total), has also helped the team's pinch hitters as well. The Phillies are 4-for-8 (.500 avg) in pinch hit appearances since Gross was brought on as the hitting instructor. Under Thompson, Phillies pinch hitters batted .144.

Certainly, the offensive improvements could all be coincidence. But for those who long hoped for the Phillies to mix up the team personnel, in order to obtain some better results...the team made a small change and the production has picked up. If there's a spot to place credit right now, it's with Gross. And, on the other hand, if the lineup's output recedes at any point, Gross would be first in line for that credit as well.
_____________________________________

Reminder- Today is PhoulBallz Phillies Wednesday. Tune in to The Shore Sports Report around 4:05pm to listen in as I talk Phillies baseball with Joe & Mike. Check it out live on WOBM 1160 AM, Shore Sports 1310 or online with this link.


Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.


BallHype: hype it up!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi